Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp

Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp with creamy chili sauce is a quick and easy dish to make for an appetizer or dinner. Crispy air-fried breaded shrimp tossed in homemade bang bang sauce will be done faster than it takes to go to a restaurant.

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What makes Bang Bang Shrimp so good?

Are you a fan of the Bonefish Grill’s signature starter, Bang Bang Shrimp? Well, this Bang Bang Shrimp air fryer recipe gives you the same great taste as Bonefish Grill’s shrimp appetizer, but in a much more human-sized package and with a lot less added fat.

The recipe below also upsizes those tiny popcorn shrimp that are, let’s face it, more coating than shrimp, into something that is entirely entree-worthy! And don’t worry, this version of the Bang Bang sauce is spot on as well.

So, what is stopping you from trying this fantastic air fryer shrimp recipe tonight or for your next game day gathering?

Bang Bang Sauce

What makes Bang Bang Shrimp so special is the light coating of the sweet and spicy sauce. The Bang Bang sauce comes together quickly with no cooking required at all. But, with only three ingredients, it is essential to choose the highest quality you can find.

The base of the sauce is mayonnaise. Of course, you can use your favorite store brand or homemade American-style mayo, but to for the best flavor, go for Kewpie-brand mayonnaise. Kewpie mayo is a Japanese-style mayonnaise, and it is distinctly different from other types. Japanese mayo is richer, sweeter, and a little more savory.

The reason is that Japanese-style mayo contains rice wine vinegar, dashi, sugar, dashi, and egg yolks. You can find Kewpie mayonnaise in some supermarkets and online, or try making it yourself.

The spiciness comes from sriracha, a chili sauce from Thailand. It has chili peppers, vinegar, garlic, sugar, and salt. Despite what you may think, it is not very spicy compared with other hot sauces. If you love spicy food, you will probably want to up the heat factor by opting for specialty sriracha that markets itself as extra spicy, such as the Crying Tiger brand.

The last ingredient is sweet chili sauce. Don’t make the mistake of buying a ketchup-based Western-style chili sauce; you want to pick up a bottle of Asian-style or Thai sweet chili sauce. Just like sriracha, sweet chili sauce is not as spicy as you may think. Finding the right ingredients to make your own sweet chili sauce at home is much more difficult than just ordering it online if your local supermarket doesn’t carry it.

Ingredients

Here’s a list of what you need:

• Mayonnaise
• Sriracha
• Sweet chili sauce
• Cooked and peeled jumbo shrimp
• Buttermilk
• Cornstarch
• Breadcrumbs
• Avocado oil
• Parsley for garnish

How to Make Bang Bang Shrimp in an Air Fryer

1. Place mayonnaise, sriracha, and sweet chili sauce in a small bowl.

2. Stir until well blended.

3. Coat shrimp in cornstarch. Shake off the excess.
4. Dip shrimp in buttermilk.
5. Roll shrimp in breadcrumbs until fully covered. Shake off the excess.

6. Place breaded shrimp in the air fryer basket in a single layer and not touching.

7. Cook at 400°F for 5 minutes on one side.
8. Drizzle a light coat of avocado oil on the cooked side.
9. Flip each shrimp and drizzle avocado oil on the uncooked side.
10. Cook for an additional 5 minutes.

11. Remove shrimp from the air fryer and set aside.
12. Repeat until all shrimp are cooked.

11. Place air-fried shrimp in a medium mixing bowl.
12. Pour bang bang sauce over the shrimp.
13. Lightly toss until the shrimp are fully covered in sauce.

14. Top with parsley and serve immediately on their own or with rice.

Air fryer bang bang shrimp recipe notes

• Looking for an extra kick? Try spicy sriracha sauce!
• Use avocado or olive oil spray instead of drizzling avocado oil on the shrimp for air frying.
• Substitute regular breadcrumbs with panko breadcrumbs for an extra crispy and crunchy crust.
• Make it gluten-free by using gluten-free breadcrumbs and make sure the rest of the ingredients are without gluten.
• Gently toss the shrimp lightly in the bang bang sauce. Otherwise, breading begins to pull away from the shrimp.

Tips for making and serving bang bang shrimp

• Use the wet hand / dry hand breading method. When coating the shrimp in breadcrumbs, use one hand for all the tasks involving liquids while using the other hand for all the dry ingredients. Doing this keeps your hands from getting too sticky.
• Work in batches. Don’t prepare all of the shrimp at once. Since most air fryers are not big enough to cook all the shrimp at once, only bread the ones you can cook immediately.
• Mix up your Bang Bang sauce in a large mixing bowl. You can use the same bowl to dip the cooked shrimp individually in the sauce to coat. Avoid tossing the cooked shrimp to avoid losing the breading.
• Bang Bang Shrimp goes with more than just Asian food. Serve with white or fried rice if you want, but the shrimp is also great with a side of french fries or even wrapped up in warm tortillas! Use them to make Bang Bang Shrimp tacos.

How to store and reheat leftovers

Place the leftover shrimp that has been cooled to room temperature in an airtight container. Store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Freezing is not recommended.

Reheating the shrimp covered with the sauce is best done in the microwave. Place it on a microwave-safe plate or dish and microwave in 20-second increments. Note the shrimp will not be crispy as it was when freshly made.

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More Air Fryer Recipes

• Air Fryer Brussel Sprouts
• Air Fryer Corn on the Cob
• Air Fryer Jalapeno Poppers
• Air Fryer Shrimp Tempura

Favorite Shrimp Recipes

• Bubba Gump Shrimp New Orleans
• Creole Shrimp and Grits
• Homemade Shrimp Cocktail Sauce
• Honey Walnut Shrimp Recipe
• Killer Shrimp
• Red Lobster Shrimp Scampi
• Baked Shrimp Parmesan
• Shrimp Tempura

Be sure to check out more of the best shrimp recipes and easy air fryer recipes here on CopyKat.com!